Christian County Prosecuting Attorney: JAMES NORMAN HARPER FOUND GUILTY OF CHILD MOLESTATION SECOND DEGREE

Press release from the Christian County Prosecuting Attorney:

August 16, 2021

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: PROSECUTING ATTORNEY’S OFFICE Kristen Tuohy, 1st APA Shana Mora. Sr. APA 417-581-7915

DATE: August 13, 2021

DATE: August 13, 2021

RE:  JAMES NORMAN HARPER FOUND GUILTY OF CHILD MOLESTATION
SECOND DEGREE

OZARK, MO – Christian County
Prosecuting Attorney Amy Fite announces that on August 11, 2021, James Norman
Harper (40), was found guilty of child molestation in the second degree by a
Christian County jury.   The jury
deliberated a little over an hour before returning its verdict finding Harper
guilty of child molestation in the second degree. 

The evidence presented at trial
included that a neighbor of the defendant was babysitting the defendant’s five-year-old
stepson.   The neighbor observed the child
sexually acting out and the child disclosed to the neighbor “Daddy does this to
me” and “I don’t like it.”  The neighbor later
made a hotline call.  In response to that
hotline call the Division of Children’s Services and the Christian County Sheriff’s
Office responded to investigate.  The following
day the child was forensically interviewed at the Child Advocacy Center in
Springfield, Missouri.

To identify and successfully
prosecute when children have been the victims of sexual offenses and/or physical
abuse requires citizens to report suspected sexual or physical abuse of a
child.  Suspected child abuse or neglect
can be reported by calling the Missouri Child Abuse & Neglect Hotline at
1-800-392-3738. 

The Honorable Laura Johnson presided
over the jury trial that began on August 9, 2021.  The defendant having been found to be a
predatory sexual offender is subject to a life sentence in the Missouri Department
of Corrections.  The Honorable Laura Johnson
set this matter for a sentencing hearing on October 12, 2021 at 3:00 p.m.

The case is being prosecuted by
Christian County Senior Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Shana Mora who was assisted
by First Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Kristen Tuohy.  The rest of the team assigned to this case
included Cathryn Ables, Victim Advocate and Suzanne Frakes, Legal Assistant.  The Christian County Sheriff’s Office investigated
the crime.  Sarah Spurlock was the lead
investigator assigned to the case.    

This press release was produced by the Christian County Prosecuting Attorney. The views expressed here are the author’s own.